Army faces a familiar opponent in an unfamiliar location in this year’s bowl game. The UConn Huskies await the Black Knights at Fenway Park for the schools’ tenth ever meeting. This surprise meeting will give the Black Knights the chance to even the series at five apiece, assuming they can notch a third straight win over this year’s Husky (9-3). Another win would play into the general streakiness of this new school Northeast rivalry. UConn owned Army in the early 2000s, but Army has gotten the better of the Huskies in more recent times.
The matchup is set: @UConnFootball and @ArmyWP_Football are coming to Fenway!https://t.co/pLlaI3O4Aa pic.twitter.com/6ykydeh5RC
— Wasabi Fenway Bowl (@FenwayBowl) December 7, 2025
The first series meeting came in 1979 in the season opener. The Cadets defeated UConn 26-10 thanks to Jimmy Hill’s 102 yard rushing performance and a receiving touchdown by Mike Fahnestock. Fahnestock’s touchdown proved an auspicious omen. The following year, he set a program record that still stands, putting up 938 receiving yards in his Firstie season and earning a spot in the venerable Blue-Gray Classic. He remains fourth in program history in both career receptions (97) and receiving yards (1726). His exploits earned him induction into the Army Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2015.
Unfortunately, that win over UConn game gave that year’s Army Team false hope. The Black Knights peaked immediately afterward, defeating Stanford to start the year 2-0 and earn an article in Sports Illustrated. After that, though, they went a lowly 0-8-1 over the next nine games, finishing 2-8-1.
The two schools did not meet for another 24 years, not until the rivalry renewed for four straight years from 2003 to 2006. UConn dominated the series in that stretch, winning by an average score of 39-11. Alas, the two schools had gotten on different trajectories. The Black Knights went 9-38 over that span, while the Huskies went 26-21, earning their first bowl appearance and then winning the Motor City Bowl in 2004.
The series took another hiatus after 2006, but when it returned, it came back on a grand stage. Army met UConn at Yankee Stadium in 2014 for what became one of the first of many truly iconic wins in then new Head Coach Jeff Monken’s tenure. Army QB Angel Santiago and SB Joe Walker each ran for two touchdowns in the Black Knights’ 35-21 win, however the defense delivered the play of the game.
With UConn mounting a furious rally and driving to tie the game at 28-apiece in the final minute, Army CB Chris Carnegie intercepted UConn QB Chandler Whitmer’s pass at the Army 1-yard line, returning it 99 yards for a game-clinching pick-six touchdown. This win became a bright spot in a year filled with growing pains. The Black Knights finished 4-8, but they’d found a way to win their first game at Yankee Stadium since 1960.
The following year, in 2015, Army returned to its losing ways against UConn, falling in a close contest, 22-17. However, yearling QB Ahmad Bradshaw provided a real spark to the offense and a peak into what would be a bright future in the loss. Bradshaw ran for 129 yards on just 16 carries, including a dazzling 56-yard touchdown run that gave the Black Knights a 10-3 lead in the second quarter. This performance became the second of 12 career 100-yard games, a figure that stands third in program history.
The series took another break, and the schools did not meet again until 2021. That year, though, Army got revenge for 2015 in dominating fashion. The Black Knights raced out to a 42-0 halftime lead and ran for 397 yards on their way to a 52-21 win over the Huskies. Army’s slotbacks ran wild. Tyrell Robinson posted an electric 75-yard touchdown, while Brandon Walters added a 58-yard run to set up another score. Army also went a perfect 3-for-3 passing for 107 yards, including a 37-yard catch by Ryan Jackovic, the only catch of his career.
Army continued its winning ways in the last meeting to date, which came in 2022. The Black Knights ran for 320 yards without completing a pass in a 34-17 win over the Myrtle Beach Bowl-bound Huskies. Once again, slotbacks led the way. Braheam Murphy ran for 124 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown run for the only 100-yard game of his career. Little-used Maurice Bellan found space around the edge often to post 39 of his 137 career yards.
This year’s Fenway Bowl provides an intriguing match-up, pitting two improving teams with an truly interesting series history. Evening the series and overcoming the woes of the 2000s would be yet another sign of the outstanding turnaround Coach Monken has undertaken in his 12 seasons at The Point.
Huge thanks as always to the 2025 Army Football Media Guide.
